Korean Efficiency

Energy efficiency measures in Korea are underway that are at the forefront of market transformation and energy savings. One, a mandate to attach a warning label to any new consumer electronics products that don’t meet energy efficiency standards for standby power, will encourage the manufacture of fewer “phantom power” hungry appliances. In the second program, agents from the major appliance manufacturers will go door-to-door to consult on minimizing electricity waste in the home.
Korea’s e-Standby Label Program
The Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and The Korea Energy Management Corporation (KEMCO) will begin a mandatory warning label program this year for manufacturers of consumer electronics with the goal of reducing standby power to less than 1 watt. The national standard is currently between 1 and 3 watts, and the program, until now, has been a voluntary one.
When an appliance doesn’t meet the national standards, it must show a yellow warning label (see image) similar to the “Surgeon General’s Warning” on cigarette packages. The yellow label states, “This product fails to meet standby product standard required by the national energy utilization act.” The mandatory labeling policy doesn’t ...